On 20 October 2014, the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic began issuing 3,000 pieces each of 100- and 200-som banknotes to commemorate the 150th birthday of Toktogul Satylganov (25.10.1864) and the 100th birthday of Alykul Osmonov (21.03.1915), respectively. These legal tender commemorative notes are like the preceding regular issues, but with offset overprints on the watermark areas at right front. On the 100-som note, there is a golden profile of Satylganov framed with the national ornament and bluish commemorative inscription (“Toktogul is 150 years old”). On the 200-som note, there is a golden quill drawing blue wave-like patterns with commemorative inscription (“Alykul Osmonov is 100 years old”).

According to a press release by the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, revised 1-, 50-, and 100-manat notes have been issued with enhanced security features, including microprinting, pearlescent stripes, and—on the two larger denominations—wider windowed security threads and holographic stripes. The notes are dated 2014 and signed by Gochmyrat Myradov.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has again selected the National Bank of Kazakhstan to receive its prestigious “Bank Note of the Year” Award for 2013. Facing stiff competition as always from the nearly 50 newly designed banknotes released worldwide in 2013, the 1000 Tenge denomination Kazakhstan note was followed in the closest voting ever by the Canada 10 Dollar and Fiji 5 Dollar currency bills.

Now in its 53rd year, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide. As a nonprofit educational organization its objectives are to promote, stimulate and advance the study, collection and dissemination of information related to paper money. From all significantly newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2013, the IBNS membership nominated notes from 12 different countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented four continents and ranged from Europe, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, North America, South America and four island nations. Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include Kazakhstan (2012 & 2011), Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004).

The 2013 winning banknote was produced collaboratively by the Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan and De La Rue Currency of England. The 1000 Tenge bill has a face value of approximately 5.5 U.S. dollars or 4 euros or 3.3 British pounds at early May 2014 exchange rates. The note was issued December 12, 2013. Smaller than U.S. dollar bills, its size of 134 x 70 mm is almost identical to the British 5 pound and European Union 20 euro notes.

The stunning design, predominantly in warm hues of yellow, brown and gold is dedicated to “Kultegin - the Monument of the Turkic Runic Writing,” whose effigy appears on the vertical format face of the note along with the modern “Kazak Eli” monument. The horizontal format reverse side highlights petroglyphic drawings of Turkic warriors against a background monument to Turkic writing. A full color image of this and other nominated banknotes are on the IBNS website.

The IBNS is open to membership from interested persons in any country. Details concerning all IBNS activities are available at www.theibns.org.

According to an article on Kapital.kz dated 18 December 2013, the National Bank of Kazakhstan has decided not to introduce a 20,000-tenge note at this time due to fears of inflation. At present the largest denomination is the 10,000-tenge note (US$65).

According to a press release dated 12 December 2013, "In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.2155 of 30 March 1995 “On the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, based on the decision of the Management Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Resolution No. 263 of 11 November 2013 of the Management Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Determination of the Design and Date of Circulation of the Commemorative Banknote of KZT 1,000 Nominal Value, Dedicated to Kultegin – the Monument of Turkic Runic Writing” signed by Kelimbetov K.N., the Chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan), announces the issue, effective from 12 December 2013, of the commemorative banknote of KZT 1,000 (one thousand tenge) nominal value, dedicated to “Kultegin” – the monument of the Turkic runic writing.The commemorative banknote of KZT 1,000 (one thousand tenge) nominal value of the sample of 2013, dedicated to “Kultegin” – the monument of the Turkic runic writing, is made of the paper of size 134 х 70 mm. The prevailing color of the banknote is yellow-brown.

The obverse side of the banknote is a follows: the prevailing images are vertical. The key images are: the monument “Қазақ Елi” (“Kazak Eli”) on the right side of the banknote and images of the flying doves in the bottom right. In the middle of the left part there is a fragment of Kultegin sculpture. In the upper part there are the images of the symbols of state of the Republic of Kazakhstan: the National Emblem and State Flag. The digital notation of the nominal value is printed at the upper left; and below it there is a legend in the state language warning about responsibility for counterfeiting: "Банкноттарды қолдан жасау заңмен қудаланады" (Banknottardy koldan zhasau zanmen kudalanady). To the left there is a horizontally located literal notation of the nominal value in the state language and a legend "ҚАЗАҚСТАН ҰЛТТЫҚ БАНКІ" (KAZAKHSTAN ULTYK BANKI).

The reverse side is as follows: the prevailing images are horizontal. The key images are: petroglyphic drawings of Turkic warriors and the monument of Turkic writing in the background. Lower left and right top there is a digital notation of the banknote nominal value and in the bottom center there is a literal notation of the nominal value in the Russian language. On the left side there is a holographic band of 12 mm wide with the image of a fragment of the State Flag, the National Bank’s logo and a legend “Ескерткіш теңге” (Eskertkish tenge). A legend “ҚАЗАҚСТАН ҰЛТТЫҚ БАНКІ" (KAZAKHSTAN ULTYK BANKI) is printed in the top middle. In the lower left corner, under the digital notation of the banknote nominal value, there is a legend “Подделка банкнот преследуется по закону” (“Counterfeiting is prosecuted under the law”).

The circulation of the commemorative banknote of KZT 1,000 (one thousand tenge) dedicated to Kultegin – the monument of Turkic runic writing - is 10,000,000."

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

According to a press release dated 30 October 2013, Bank of Russia has begun issuing 20 million 100-ruble notes commemorating the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi. The new notes are legal tender and will circulate in parallel with existing notes of the same denomination.

Since 1940, the Uzbek language has been written in Cyrillic script, but following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Latin script has been officially re-introduced. This is the first note on which Latin script is used.

On 27 December 2012, the National Bank of Tajikistan introduced revised 5- and 10-somoni (US$1.05 and $2.10, respectively) banknotes like the preceding issues (NBT B6 and B7), but with the addition of a Kinegram stripe at right front.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

According to a press release dated 4 March 2013, on 5 March the National Bank of Tajikistan issued 20-, 50-, and 100-somoni notes with enhanced security features which include laser-etching the last three digits of the serial number into the adjacent holographic stripe. The 200-somoni note released two years ago was the first to have the laser-etched numbers.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has again selected the National Bank of Kazakhstan to receive its prestigious “Bank Note of the Year” Award for 2012. Facing stiff competition as always from nearly 100 new banknotes released worldwide in 2012, the 5000 Tenge denomination Kazakhstan note was followed in voting by the Canada 50 Dollar and Jersey 100 Pound currency bills.

Now in its 52nd year, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide. As a nonprofit educational organization its objectives are to promote, stimulate and advance the study, collection and dissemination of information related to paper money. From all significantly newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2012, the IBNS membership nominated notes from 13 different countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented four continents and ranged from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East to North, South and Central America. Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include Kazakhstan (2011), Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004).

The 2012 winning banknote was designed collaboratively by De La Rue of England and the National Bank. The Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan undertook the printing. The 5000 Tenge bill has a face value of approximately 33 U.S. dollars or 25 euros or 22 British pounds at early-May 2013 exchange rates. The note was issued 30 December 2011 for circulation in 2012. Slightly narrower, but taller, than U.S. dollar bills, its size is almost identical to the 20 pound English and 50 Euro notes.

The stunning design, predominantly in vivid reddish-orange features the “Kazak Eli” monument with flying doves and panther in a vertical format on the face of the banknote. The horizontal format reverse side highlights a map of the country with mountains and the “Monument of Independence” with the Kazakhstan Hotel in the former capital city of Almaty. A full color image of this and other nominated banknotes are on the IBNS website.

The IBNS is open to membership from interested persons in any country. Details concerning all IBNS activities are available at www.theibns.org.

According to a press release from the Naitonal Bank of the Rupublic of Kazkhstan, a new 2,000-tenge note was issued 29 March 2013. "The banknote of KZT 2,000 (two thousand) nominal value with a modified design is made of the paper of 139х73 mm. The obverse side of the banknote is a follows: the prevailing colors are dark green and light green; the prevailing images are vertical. The key images: the monument “Қазақ Елi” (“Kazak Eli”) on the right side of the banknote and images of the flying doves in the bottom center. At the bottom of the banknote there is a figure of saiga antelope made with the color- shifting paint. In the upper part there are the images of the symbols of state of the Republic of Kazakhstan: national emblem and state flag. The digital notation of the nominal value is printed on the left side, above and below; on the left center there is a digital notation of the nominal value in the state language. The legend "ҚАЗАҚСТАН ҰЛТТЫҚ БАНКІ" (KAZAKHSTAN ULTYK BANKI) is in the upper left corner; below there is a legend in the state language warning about responsibility for counterfeiting: "Банкноттарды қолдан жасау заңмен қудаланады" (Banknottardy koldan zhasau zanmen kudalanady)."

"The reverse side is as follows: the prevailing colors are dark green and light green; the prevailing images are horizontal. The key image is an outline of Kazakhstan map contour with the image of Irtysh River. On the right side there is a holographic band of 13 mm wide with the image of nominal value, a stylized yurt and fragment of the state flag. Lower left, right top and lower right there is a digital notation of the banknote nominal value and in the bottom center there is a literal notation of the nominal value in the Russian language. A legend “ҚАЗАҚСТАН ҰЛТТЫҚ БАНКІ", is printed in the top middle; in the lower left corner, under the notation of the banknote nominal value, there is a legend “Подделка банкнот преследуется по закону” (“Counterfeiting is prosecuted under the law”)."

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Like TMB B16 (P23), but the lower right front around the denomination numeral has been redesigned, the date and signature (Tuvakmammet Japarov) are new, and a pearlescent stripe has been added on back.

Like TMB B18 (P25), but the lower right front around the denomination numeral has been redesigned, the date and signature (Tuvakmammet Japarov) are new, and a pearlescent stripe has been added on back.

Like TMB B17 (P24), but the lower right front around the denomination numeral has been redesigned, the date and signature (Tuvakmammet Japarov) are new, and a pearlescent stripe has been added on back.

Like TMB B15 (P22), but the lower right front around the denomination numeral has been redesigned, the date and signature (Tuvakmammet Japarov) are new, and a pearlescent stripe has been added on back.

According to a post on the web site of the Türkmenistanyñ Merkezi Banky (Central Bank of Turkmenistan), new banknotes have been issued in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 manat. All of the notes appear to be dated 2012, bearing new signatures, and with a pearlescent stripe on back. The two larger denominations also appear to have SPARK patches on front. There's no information on the fate of the 50- and 100-manat notes. As the largest denominations in Turkmenistan, one would assume they are in line for enhanced security features, too, but perhaps the bank still has sufficient stocks of the notes originally issued in 2009.

On 28 May 2012, the National Bank of Kazakhstan introduced a 10,000-tengé (US$69) note like NBK B38 (PNL), but without the 20th anniversary logo on back, and a new date of 2012. The commemorative issue of this note recently received the IBNS Bank Note of the Year award.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has selected the National Bank of Kazakhstan to receive its prestigious “Bank Note of the Year” Award for 2011. Facing stiff competition as always from almost 100 new banknotes released worldwide in 2011, the 10,000 Tenge denomination Kazakhstani note [NBK B38 (PNL)] was followed in voting by the Canada 100 Dollar and Gibraltar 100 Pound currency bills [GOG B34 (P39)].

Now in its 51st year, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide. As a non-profit educational organization its objectives are to promote, stimulate and advance the study, collection and dissemination of information related to paper money. From all significantly newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2011, the IBNS board of directors nominated notes from 12 different countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented 5 continents and ranged from the fledgling country of South Sudan to the venerable Bank of England. Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004).

The 2011 winning banknote was designed collaboratively by De La Rue of England and the National Bank. The Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan undertook the printing. The 10,000 Tenge bill has a face value of approximately 68 U.S. dollars or 53 euro or 42 British pounds at mid-May 2012 exchange rates. The note was released 4 July 2011 with a circulation of 30 million pieces to commemorate 20 years of Independence for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Slightly larger than either the 50 euro or U.S. dollar bills, its size is almost identical to the English 20 pound note.

The stunning design, predominantly in dark blue-violet features the “Kazak Eli” monument with flying birds in a vertical format on the face of the banknote. The horizontal format reverse side highlights the Presidential Palace in the new capital city of Astana and a map of the country. A full color image of this and other Kazakh banknotes can be viewed on the National Bank’s website.

The IBNS is open to membership from interested persons in any country. Details concerning all IBNS activities are available at www.theibns.org.

500 rubles (US$16.65), 2010. Introduced 6 September 2011. Like P271 but with the following changes:

The color and styling of the front and back of the partially modified.

Dated 2010 at bottom left front.

Embedded security fibers in paper.

Wide windowed security thread.

Tactile elements for the sight impaired.

Rainbow moire pattern.

Horizontal novel serial numbering at left.

Magnetic properties added.

New UV printing.

The most substantial change to the design is on the back, which now features a correct view of the Solovetsky Monastery, which the preceding 500-ruble notes incorrectly depicted during its time as a concentration camp.

According to an article on The Moscow News dated 23 December 2011, Georgry Luntovsksy, the head of the Bank of Russia, has acknowledged, “In the fourth quarter [of 2011] we once again began printing the paper 10 ruble note, as banks had begun to complain of a deficit of the coins.” In October 2009, the bank announced the 10-ruble (US$0.30) note would be replaced with a coin.

The Uzbekistan chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$4.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 7-page catalog covers every note (53 types and varieties, including 17 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the ЎЗБЕКИСТОН ДАВЛАТ БАНКИ (Bank of Uzbekistan) in 1992, and the ЎЗБЕКИСТОН РЕСПУБЛИКАСИ МАРКАЗИЙ БАНКИ (Central Bank of Uzbekistan Republic) from 1994 until present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

There may be a new variety for the 10,000-manat note dated 1999, listed in The Banknote Book as TMB B6 (P13). As you can see from the scans above, there is a crescent moon and five stars in optically variable ink at upper left front. On the earlier issue (based upon the serial number) shown at left, the OVI appears green, but on later issues shown at right, the OVI appears gold. The differences in the color is not a scanning artifact; examining the notes themselves reveals they appear different to the naked eye even when tilted back and forth.

All images I’ve seen of notes with higher serial numbers than the one shown at right also appear to have gold OVI, including the revised 2000 dated note TMB B7 (P14). If anyone else has a green OVI note, please post a comment with your note’s serial number.

In the second quarter of 2010, the board of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted at its meetings 34 resolutions, including one “On emission of an anniversary banknote of KZT 10,000 (ten thousand) denomination devoted to the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

The Turkmenistan chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

This 11-page catalog covers every note (38 types and varieties, including 5 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Türkmenistanyñ Merkezi Döwlet Banky (Central State Bank of Turkmenistan) from 1993 to 1995, and the Türkmenistanyñ Merkezi Banky (Central Bank of Turkmenistan) from 1995 until present day. Revised 12 October 2012.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

Obverse: The images are vertical. The main image in the middle of the banknote: the dome of the mausoleum of Hodja Akhmed Yassavi. On the left is the official logo of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The face value is placed in the lower part of the banknote. The upper part shows the state symbols of the Republic of Kazakhstan: National Emblem and National Flag. The name of the issuing bank, in Kazakh, is placed vertically in the top left, above the name there is an inscription in the Kazakh language stating that counterfeiting banknotes is against the law.

Reverse: The images are horizontal. The main image is the mausoleum of Hodja Akhmed Yassavi. . The face value is placed in the bottom left, in the middle and the right part. The name of the issuing bank, in the Kazakh language is in the middle of the upper half of the note. At the bottom in the middle of the banknotes, there is an inscription in Russian stating that counterfeiting banknotes is against the law.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

The Tajikistan chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$4.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 7-page catalog covers every note (49 types and varieties, including 8 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan in 1994, and the National Bank of Tajikistan from 1999 until present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

The Kyrgyzstan chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$4.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 9-page catalog covers every note (47 types and varieties, including 11 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Kyrgyz Republic in 1993 and the Kyrgyzstan Bank from 1993 to present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

The Kazakhstan chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 11-page catalog covers every note (69 types and varieties, including 18 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan from 1993 to present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

On 10 August 2010, Bank of Russia issued a new 1,000-ruble (US$33.20) note with improved security features, including a translucent band, OVI bank logo, SPARK patch with bear on shield, rainbow moire pattern, electrotype 1000 watermark, solid security thread with demetalized 1000, microperf, intaglio printing, microprinting, and a slightly darker and refined picture of Yaroslavl kremlin chapel, and Yaroslav I the Wise, as well as a number of changes to shading lines and margins. The new note is aimed at fighting counterfeiters. Older notes of the same denomination issued in 1997 and 2004 (Pick 277) will be removed from circulation as they wear out, but remain legal tender.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

On 17 January 2011, the National Bank of Kazakhstan issued a new 2,000-tenge (US$13.60) banknote to mark the 2011 Asian Winter Games hosted by Kazakhstan. The banknote bears the emblem of the 7th Asian Winter Games that are scheduled to be held in Astana and Almaty from 30 January to 6 February.

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic introduced new 20-, 50-, 100-, and 5,000-som banknotes in 2009, all of which were produced by the French security printer, Oberthur Technologies, without imprint. On 1 December 2010 the bank issued 200-, 500-, and 1,000-som (US$4.25, 10.70, and 21.40, respectively) notes printed by De La Rue. These denominations complete the fourth issues from the Kyrgyz Republic’s central bank. More info can be found here.

Paul Goble, a longtime specialist on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia, has posted an interesting article on his Window on Eurasia blog, Primorsky Kray Deputies Suggest Reviving a Regional Currency, in which he discusses the possibility of Russian regions issuing their own local currencies, and covers historical examples of such issuances following the fall of the Soviet Union.

This 296-page paperback book is a fascinating look at a country most Westerners barely know. The English author Robbins does a wonderful job of weaving his personal experiences in this former Soviet republic with rich historical background, from ancient times to repression under Russian rule in the last century. Of particular interest to banknote collectors is the chapter in which Robbins recounts the secret—and ultimately successful—plan to introduce tenge banknotes in 1993 to avoid being at the mercy of Moscow when it replaced the Soviet ruble with the new Russian ruble.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan issued a new 1,000-tenge note on 5 January 2010 to commemorate Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2010.A total of 10 million notes will be issued at face value (US$6.75). The note dated 2010 is the same size (134 x 70 mm) as the current note of the same denomination, though the color is now turquoise-green, and the designs are as follows:

Obverse: State Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan in left upper corner, decorative image of flying birds in national style, face value in Kazakh language in the center, motives of Kazakh national patterns along the banknote, holographic image of Baiterek monument , color-changing logo of National Bank of Kazakhstan on the right part

Reverse: State Flag of the Republic in the left lower corner, Akorda palace of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the center with face value in Russian language, image of a bird and year of issue 2010, numerical indication of face value in the left lower part, motives of Kazakh national patterns along the banknote.

On 31 October 2006, the Bank of Russia announced that it intends to replace all 10-ruble (Pick 273, US$0.37) banknotes with coins. “Coins serve longer than banknotes,” explained deputy chairman Georgy Luntovsky. Coins can circulate for 10 to 15 years, while 10- and 50-ruble notes have a lifetime of approximately half a year.

On 22 October 2009, the bank announced that it would stop issuing 10-ruble (US$0.35) banknotes in 2010 because they wear out quickly and are too expensive to produce. The notes will be replaced by a coin.

The following 25-som note from Uzbekistan is dated 1994 and depicts the Kazi-Zadé Rumi mausoleum in the Shakhi-Zinda necropolis in Samarkand, which also appears on the issued note of the same denomination (Pick 77). However, the note with the specimen serial number of AB1234567 is printed on smaller (120 x 62 mm versus 144 x 68 mm) paper than the issued note. The paper has the same star pattern watermark and solid security thread as the 1- and 3-som notes (Pick 73 and 74).

This appears to be an unissued design, but anyone with additional information is encouraged to share. I’m especially interested to learn if there are other unadopted designs for this series of notes.

According to the assistant president of the Kyrgyz National Bank, Zair Chokoev, “We retained the style of our banknotes but tried to make them more convenient. Notes of the third series were too large and inconvenient to use. And we decided to reduce their size,” Zair Chokoev said. The new fourth series will slowly replace the notes of the third series.

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic introduced a 5,000-som note (US$122) on 2 March 2009. The front of the note features a portrait of actor, writer, and sportsman Suimenkul Chokmorov. On the back is Ala-Too, one of the oldest cinemas of the capital city of Bishkek. Previously the largest denomination was the 1,000-som note issued in 2000.

According to a Mosnews.com article dated May 22, 2009, “elderly residents of the city of Archangelsk, North Russia, have asked the Minister of Finance, Alexei Kudrin, to change the image on the 500-ruble banknote (Pick 271, shown below), which they claim is a picture of a Soviet death camp. The note carries an image of the Solovetsky Monastery, a UNESCO world heritage site. However, in the Soviet era between 1926 and 1938 the crosses were removed from the buildings and the site was used as a special prison and a gulag prototype.”

“We all understand that they just wanted to depict one of the most beautiful sights of our city, the famous Solovetsky Monastery, but they have accidentally depicted the Solovetsky death camp,” 72-year-old Arkhangelsk resident Vasily Fedotov said.

“If you look at the [back of the] banknote closely you will notice that the holy crosses, which usually top Orthodox churches, are only seen on one golden dome in the picture. This means that the artist has painted the death camp. Our banknote is the only note in the world with a picture of a World War II concentration camp. Our feelings are hurt. We feel pain for veterans and for the people who died in these damned death camps. I hope that Alexei Kudrin will hear our prayers and change the picture,” he added.

On January 1, 2009, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan issued a new series of notes printed by Thomas De La Rue, which has printed Turkmenistan currency since independence in 1991. The new notes bear images of prominent figures of the Turkmen nation and architectural compositions of Ashgabat. The government revalued its currency in conjunction with the introduction of the new notes. Prior to the revaluation, the official exchange rate was 5,000 manats to the US dollar, with the black market rate almost five times that. The new manat is equal to 50 of the “old” manat.

There are two different 100-tenge notes dated 1993. The original (Pick 13a, top left) was issued in 1993. It features an intaglio rosette in the upper left corner of the front of the note. There is a second variety also dated 1993 (top right), but issued in 2001. It has the rosette in OVI.

There are two different 200-tenge notes dated 1999. The original (Pick 20, middle left) was issued in 2000. It features the denomination embossed on a rosette in the lower right corner of the front of the note. There is a second variety (middle right) also dated 1999, but issued in 2002. It has a latent image instead of embossing, and a different background design to the right of the portrait.

There are two different 500-tenge notes dated 1999. The original (Pick 21, bottom left) was issued in 2000. It features the denomination embossed on a rosette in the lower right corner of the front of the note. There is a second variety (bottom right) also dated 1999, but issued in 2002. It has a latent image instead of embossing, and a different background design to the right of the portrait. This note is listed as Pick 27, erroneously indicated as a 2004 issue.

If anyone has additional information about these or other unlisted varieties for other denominations, please add your comment below.

Today the National Bank of Kazakhstan began issuing a new series of notes. This completely redesigned series share similar design elements on front (vertical format) and back (horizontal), distinguished primarily by different color schemes and printed denominations. The previous series (Pick 20 - 27) featuring a portrait of Al-Farabi will circulate in parallel with the new series for a period of one year.

The front of each note features the Astan-Baiterek monument in center, with a fragment of printed music of the national anthem overprinted with the numerical denomination. National emblem at left, along with an opened palm, and flag at right. The back of each note features a different main image within the outline of Kazakhstan’s boundaries.

Officials at the National Bank of Kazakhstan admit that there’s a problem with the new series of notes issued on November 15. The word “bank” on some of the new notes is misspelled with an alternate Kazakh form of the letter K (above, top), not the Cyrillic version (above, bottom), which has a slightly different pronunciation. Despite politicians’ calls to scrap the new issue, bank officials plan to release the error notes and then gradually withdraw them from circulation.

This error affects only some 2,000- and 5,000-tenge notes, and not the other denominations in this new series. Curiously, the misspelled “bank” appears on both sides of the KZT2,000 (US$15.65), but only on the face of the KZT5,000 (US$39.10).